House to continue Charter change hearings next week
The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments will continue next week its deliberations on House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s measure seeking to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution, according to Makabayan lawmakers.
In a virtual press conference, Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate bared that on January 26, the House panel, chaired by AKO Bicol partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. will resume deliberations on Resolution of Both Houses No. 2.
“Sa susunod na linggo, on Tuesday, January 26, itutuloy 'yung usapin na papasayawin tayo sa Cha-cha kahit nasa gitna pa tayo nitong pandemya,” Zarate said.
(Next week, on Tuesday, January 26, the discussions on Cha-cha will continue even though we are in the middle of pandemic.)
“Binuboogie pa natin itong krisis na pinalala ng pandemya ng COVID, may mga sektor na gustong magCha-cha at magCha-cha tayo.”
(We have to recover from this crisis worsened by the COID-pandemic and yet there are sectors that we want us to have Cha-cha.)
Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Ferdinand Gaite also confirmed about the scheduled hearing, and cannot help, but to question the House leadership’s insistence to push for economic Charter change.
“Ang tanong lang namin talaga ay, really at this time of COVID, charter change again?.”
He maintained that the economic Cha-cha "does not assure of an improving economy.”
Zarate described the House leadership’s preoccupation with Cha-cha as a “diversionary tactic” to cover up the pressing issues hounding the Duterte government, such as its continued failure to address COVID-19 related problems.
He asked the public to be on guard and vigilant, as the House decided to push through the economic amendments of the 34-year old Charter.
RBH No. 2 specifically aims to revise certain economic provisions of the 34-year old Constitution, particularly Articles XII (National Patrimony and Economy), XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports) and XVI (General Provisions).
Under RBH No. 2, Velasco proposed that the constitutional limits on foreign ownership of land, natural resources, schools, media and public utilities be lifted to ensure the flow of foreign investments into the country.
Velasco’s measure seeks to insert the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” to several sections of the Constitution which restrict foreign ownership of land, natural resources, public utilities, media, and advertising.
It provides that by a vote of three-fourths of all its members, the Senate and the House of Representatives voting separately, could propose amendments to Articles XII and XIV and XVI of the 1987 Constitution.